Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(16)

I was about to say yes, I absolutely wanted to see her paintings, when I realized she wasn’t asking me. Her eyes were on Nora.

“Yes,” Nora said. “Which ones are yours?”

“This way.”

I followed behind, trying not to feel left out. But Riley was so animated and enthusiastic. It was like seeing my baby girl again. Taller, and not very baby-like anymore, but I recognized that bounce in her step and sparkle in her eyes.

She led us to the end of one of the long tables where there were several paintings set on easels. I recognized Riley’s style immediately. One was a woman with long dark hair, wearing a black dress. She stood in an empty field, looking down, as if sad. Most of it was gray and black, except for the faintest hints of orange, red, and purple on the horizon, like the sun had just set behind her. Or was rising, depending on how you wanted to interpret the scene. It was gorgeous.

Another was completely different, although I could still see the stamp of Riley’s imagination. It was a landscape with mountains in the background and a little cabin with a creek running in front of it. She’d added a single blue bird on the branch of a tree, the bright color drawing the eye in a way that added interesting depth to the painting.

Finally, the largest canvas was a signature Riley St. James. A unicorn with its front legs in the air, mane and tail streaming behind. But the scenery around it was stark and foreboding, with a streak of lightning in the sky. The animal had eerie red eyes and the rainbow colors in the mane and tail gradually turned gray and colorless at the ends.

It was beautifully creepy.

Nora gazed at the paintings, her full lips parted. “Riley, these are amazing.”

“You like them?”

“I don’t just like them, I love them. They’re absolutely stunning.”

“Thank you.” Riley turned to me and lifted her eyebrows.

“She’s right, they’re stunning.” I pointed to the painting of the woman. “Your use of color here is perfect. The perspective and use of light are spot on. And the gradient on the unicorn’s mane and tail is so smooth. You made it look like the color is bleeding right out of it. Well done.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She fidgeted with her hands again, glancing around the gym. “That’s it for mine but if you want to look around, you can.”

“Lead the way,” Nora said.

We followed Riley around the tables. She pointed out a few pieces, but mostly just let us look. It was neat to see what the other kids had done, and slightly awkward to walk around with Nora at my side.

Especially because she drew attention.

It was subtle, but I could see it happening. Gazes followed her, eyes lighting up with interest.

Were they curious about her, or curious about us?

Not that there was an us, but walking side-by-side at a middle school art show kind of gave a certain impression.

I didn’t blame people for noticing her. Hell, every time I caught a glimpse of her out the window, I stopped and stared. She was gorgeous, well-dressed, put together. But that wasn’t the entire story. Her poise drew the eye, made you stop and take notice.

There was just something about her.

“That’s about it,” Riley said when we’d made our way around the gym. “I hope it wasn’t too boring.”

“Not at all. This was really fun,” Nora said and something in her tone made me wonder if that surprised her a little.

“It was fun,” I said. “Although your paintings are the best ones in here.”

“You have to say that because you’re my dad.”

I shrugged. “I still mean it.”

“I agree,” Nora said. “And I’m not your dad.”

Riley smiled and it brightened her whole face. “I guess we can go whenever. I just need to get my stuff out of my locker.”

“Your call, kiddo,” I said. “I’m ready when you are.”

“I’ll be right back.” She headed for one of the gym entrances.

A mildly uncomfortable silence followed her departure—uncomfortable for me, at least. Probably because I kept thinking about Nora dressed in those sheer pajamas when the raccoon had been in her trash.

Not exactly appropriate for the setting.

Or any setting.

I took a quick breath to clear my head. “Thanks for coming. This means a lot to her.”

“I was so touched that she asked. I wouldn’t have missed it.” She glanced around the gym, her eyebrows drawing in. “I haven’t been inside a middle school since I went to one. Those were not my best years.”

My brow furrowed. That surprised me. “Really?”

“I guess it took me a while to come into my own. Plus the boys were annoying and the girls were mean. It was pretty awful. At least until I met my best friends.”

“Sounds about right.” Maybe that was why Riley seemed to be struggling. Just the normal trials of middle school.

“What about you? Did you get through middle school unscathed?” she asked.

“Not really. I was a late bloomer, so I was one of the smallest in my class. That sucked.”

She looked me up and down. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. I grew five inches over the summer before ninth grade. Hurt like hell but I was a new man going into high school.”